Today’s Northview Baseball Canceled
March 13, 2012
The Northview High School baseball games against Baker scheduled for today have been canceled. Both games will be made up on Wednesday, with the junior varsity playing at 4:00 and the varsity playing at 6:00 at Northview.
Alabama Primary Underway
March 13, 2012
Alabama’s primary election is underway today, with polls open until 7 p.m.
Shortly after 8:00 this morning at the Atmore City Hall precinct, turnout appeared slow, with just one potential voter entering the polling place during a 15 minute period.
Nearby, a small group had set up an tent with a sign “When Women Vote, Democrats Win” — a paid political message from the Democratic National Convention. A few Ron Paul signs surrounded the entrance to the parking lot, otherwise there was little sign that an election was even taking place.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
60 Tonight, 85 Wednesday
March 13, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight:Partly cloudy in the evening becoming mostly cloudy. Areas of fog after midnight. Lows around 60. Southwest winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming light.
- Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the mid 80s. Southeast winds around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night: Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Thursday Night: Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83.
Flomaton Fires Arrested Police Chief, Hires Replacement
March 13, 2012
The Flomaton Town Council voted Monday night to fire Police Chief Geoff McGraw, four days after his arrest in Florida, and promoted their interim chief to job of the town’s top cop.
Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant asked the council to terminate McGraw “based on job performance” without offering any specific reason.
McGraw was arrested last Thursday in Escambia County (Fla.) following a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office. McGraw, 30, turned himself in at the Escambia County (Fla.) Jail on a third degree felony charge of kidnapping/false imprisonment. He was released on a $5,000 bond.
FDLE obtained the warrant for McGraw’s arrest for an August 14, 2011, incident in which Ronald Adadm Barrow was arrested by McGraw at home on Old Flomaton Road in Century. McGraw, without jurisdiction, allegedly took Barrow into custody in Florida on an outstanding Escambia County (Ala.) failure to appear warrant in misdemeanor case, Keith Cameg, spokesperson for FDLE, told NorthEscambia.com. Barrow was then transported back across the state line into Alabama.
McGraw was placed on an indefinite paid leave February 27 by the Flomaton Town Council.
Also Monday night, the Flomaton Town Council voted to promote Daniel Thompson to the full time chief’s position; he has served as interim chief since McGraw was suspended on February 27.
For more about McGraw’s arrest, click here for an earlier NorthEscambia.com story.
Pictured top: New Flomaton Police Chief Daniel Thomspon (far right) listens as Mayor Dewey Bondurant (far left) speaks during a town council meeting Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century CI Employees Read To Jay Elementary Students
March 13, 2012
Representatives from Century Correctional Institution read to a class at Jay Elementary School recently as part of Read Across America Day.
Read Across America Day, the signature program of the National Education Association, focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships and reading resources. It’s held annual on or near Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
Century Correctional’s Assistant Warden Robert Flores and Officer Tony deGraaf read to Mrs. deGraaf’s kindergarten class at Jay Elementary School as part of the program. They read the popular Seuss book Green Eggs and Ham and gave each student a special treat. They also expressed the importance of learning to read and of a good education.
Pictured: Century Correctional Institution Officer Tony deGraaf (in hat) and Assistant Warden Robert Flores read to a kindergarten class at Jay Elementary School. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Beats Neal
March 13, 2012
The Flomaton Hurricanes beat W.S. Neal 3-2 in 8 innings of play Monday night.
Joseph Parker pitched for Flomaton with 14 strikeouts, one walk and allowed four hits for the win. Brian Settle takes the loss for Neal.
The Hurricanes improved their record to 8-3 with a seven game winning streak. Neal dropped to 10-4 with the loss.
The Flomaton Hurricanes will be in action Tuesday in Atmore against Escambia County High School. The junior varsity plays at 4:00 while the varsity takes the field at 6:00..
Area Twirler Wins State Age Group Championship
March 13, 2012
Colbi Kendall was named the Alabama State Show Twirl and Solo Champion in her age group this past weekend in Cullman, AL. She is in the seventh grade at Flomaton High School and twirls under the instruction of Melissa Majors with the Santa Rosa and Escambia Twirlers. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Main Library To Close Temporarily
March 13, 2012
The West Florida Public Library’s Main Branch at 200 West Gregory Street will close Sunday, March 18 for about two weeks as part of the ongoing construction of a new library building on the site.
West Florida Public Library’s five other branches will remain open during the closure, including the Century Branch Library.
During the closure, library staff will move books, computers, and other items from the existing building to the new addition, which is expected to be completed this week. After the main branch reopens in the new addition, a complete renovation of the existing library building will begin.
“With completion of the new addition, we’ve reached a major milestone in this project,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “By reusing the existing building, we’re getting the most out of every dollar, and with the new building’s energy efficiency upgrades, we’ll save on energy costs while greening our City.”
When construction is completed this fall, a 40,000 square foot Main Library will anchor the West Florida Public Library system. The new building will become the first City facility to gain LEED certification.
“The new facility will provide a quantum leap in library service to Pensacola area residents,” said Library Director Gene Fischer. “The new building is a positive indication of how Pensacola is progressing.”
The finished building will feature an expanded children’s area, new books section, 50 computers for public use, a bookstore, two community meeting rooms, a coffee shop, and an atrium.
The project is funded through $6 million in local sales tax, a $606,500 U.S. Department of Energy grant, and $1 million left over from WFPL’s Tryon Branch on Langley Avenue, construction of which came in under budget. Friends of the Pensacola Library have also contributed $100,000.
Pictured top: A rendering of the new Main Branch of the West Florida Library. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Romney Makes Last Minute Whistle Stop (With Gallery)
March 13, 2012
Alabama voters headed to the polls Tuesday for the state’s primary elections. On Monday, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney began his late push for voters with a breakfast appearance on the Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends talk show from the Whistle Stop Cafe in Mobile.
For more photos from the event, click here.
Alabama has 50 delegates on the line in Tuesday’s primary. According to a poll released Monday by North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling, Romney held a small margin among potential Republican voters at 31 percent, while Newt Gingrich had 30 percent, Rick Santorium polled at 29 percent and 8 percent were in favor of Ron Paul.
“If you think that Washington is a mess I hope you will send me there so I can fix it,” Romney told the Mobile audience, according to the Mobile Press-Register. “If you think this country needs to be taken on a different direction than it’s been going under the last three years, then I want your vote here in Alabama.”
Comedian Jeff Foxworthy joined Romney on the campaign trail, joining the small crowd inside the Whistle Stop Cafe in singing “Happy Birthday” to Romney, who turned 65 on Monday.
Along with choosing their Republican presidential favorite, Alabama voters will also choose delegates for the Republican National Convention. Among those in the running is Jeff Peacock of Atmore. Peacock and a small number of Atmore residents joined Romney for his breakfast visit in Mobile on Monday.
For more photos from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Comedian Jeff Foxworthy (left) and Robert Maxwell of Atmore (center) listen as Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney campaigns Monday in Mobile. Pictured inset: Mitt Romney turned 65 on Monday, with supporters in Mobile singing “Happy Birthday” to the candidate. NorthEscambia.com photos by Jodi Peacock, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Northview, Jay, ECHS Track Meet
March 13, 2012
The Jay Royals took first place while the Northview Chiefs claimed second in a track meet last week in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Results, with total points earned, were as follows:
Girls
Jay — 118 points
Northview — 76
JU Blacksher — 58
Central High — 55
Escambia County (Atmore) — 11
Boys
Jay High — 99
Northview High – 75
JU Blacksher — 60
Central High — 56
Escambia County (Atmore) –29
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Action from a track meet last week Northview High School in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos by Bethany Reynolds, click to enlarge.
